Coul Links Highland golf course plan to be scrutinised by Scottish Government

Councillors voted to give the go-ahead to the course despite officials recommending it be rejected

TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND – JULY 15: U.S. President Donald Trump plays a round of golf at Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort during the U.S. President’s first official visit to the United Kingdom on July 15, 2018 in Turnberry, Scotland. Trump’s other golf course in Aberdeenshire sparked protests by conservation groups. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

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Plans for a controversial 18-hole championship golf course in the Highlands are to be scrutinised by Scottish ministers.

The course would be built on dunes at Coul Links, near Dornoch, but conservation groups oppose the development.

Councillors voted to give the go-ahead to the course despite officials recommending it be rejected.

Ministers only intervene in the planning process in exceptional circumstances.

Ministers only intervene in exceptional circumstances

Planning Minister Kevin Stewart said it was the “right decision” to call-in the planning application.

He said: “I have called in the application as the proposal raises issues of national importance in relation to natural heritage issues and its compliance with Scottish planning policy and requires further scrutiny.”

The proposal also includes a clubhouse, a pro shop, caddy hut, workshop, administration building and information booth.

The developers argue that the golf course would improve and protect the area of land involved, and bring much-needed jobs to the area.

But a group of conservation charities opposed to the project has welcomed the ministers’ decision.

Conservation charities welcomed the decision

Aedán Smith, Head of Planning and Development at RSPB Scotland said: “There is now a great opportunity for Scottish Ministers to show the world that Scotland has become a much more responsible country in the 10 years since Donald Trump was granted consent for his environment wrecking golf course in Aberdeenshire.

“Saving Coul Links would show the world that Scotland is open for business but no longer at any cost to our environment.”

Stuart Brooks, Head of Policy and Conservation for the National Trust for Scotland said: “Scotland is home to some of the World’s best loved wild landscapes and wildlife sites and it is right that our government ensure that when these are threatened by development they are subject to the proper level of scrutiny and decisions are made in the national interest.”

Paul Kirkland, Head of Butterfly Conservation Scotland said: “We applaud this decision by the Scottish Government.”

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